Illustration2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE READDRESSED. *TR
2003 Ford Expedition
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Expedition years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Expedition are substantially higher than the model-year median of 155.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Expedition years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
960–25K
5325–50K
6950–75K
7175–100K
105100–150K
69150K+
463 reports with mileage · 152 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
57 crash reports36 fire reports39 injury reports
What owners actually said
615 reportsMY FORD EXPEDITION HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES AND THE SPARK PLUG FOR #3 CYLINDER FELL INTO THE CYLINDER CHAMBER THUS THE PISTON WAS HITTING THE SPARK PLUG ,THIS REPAIR CAN COST AS MUCH $1800.00...FOR A SPARK PLUG THAT COST AROUND $5.00 ON A SUV THAT COST $50,000.00... THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE SINCE THE PISTON WAS PUSHING I…
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MY FORD EXPEDITION HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES AND THE SPARK PLUG FOR #3 CYLINDER FELL INTO THE CYLINDER CHAMBER THUS THE PISTON WAS HITTING THE SPARK PLUG ,THIS REPAIR CAN COST AS MUCH $1800.00...FOR A SPARK PLUG THAT COST AROUND $5.00 ON A SUV THAT COST $50,000.00... THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE SINCE THE PISTON WAS PUSHING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, A FUEL AIR MIXTURE, PLUS, THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRICAL SPARK ARE A PERFECT MIXTURE FOR A FIRE... !!! I WAS CHARGED $ 689.00 FOR A TOW BACK TO MY HOME. I WANT THIS PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE!!!! A RECALL IS IN ORDER! I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR MY REPAIR AND TOWING BILL BECAUSE THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW AND IT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS!!! CONTACT ME PLEASE! I HOPE THIS CAN HELPS OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED AND ALMOST SLIPPED ON A RAMP UNTIL HE REGAINED CONTROL. HE ALSO NOTICED A VIBRATING NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP BUT THERE WERE NO DEFINITE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT THE CAUSE FOR FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED AND ALMOST SLIPPED ON A RAMP UNTIL HE REGAINED CONTROL. HE ALSO NOTICED A VIBRATING NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP BUT THERE WERE NO DEFINITE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE WAS. HE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER OR TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITON WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TAPPING NOISE ALL DAY AS I DROVE AROUND TOWN. WHEN I HIT MY HOME TOWN I WAS A .10 OF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND A HUGE BANGING NOISE OCCURED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I COULD SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS. FROM INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD I NOTICED THE COIL ASSEMBLY ABOVE IN THE RIGHT REAR CYL…
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MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITON WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TAPPING NOISE ALL DAY AS I DROVE AROUND TOWN. WHEN I HIT MY HOME TOWN I WAS A .10 OF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND A HUGE BANGING NOISE OCCURED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I COULD SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS. FROM INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD I NOTICED THE COIL ASSEMBLY ABOVE IN THE RIGHT REAR CYLINDER WAS BROKEN AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS LAYING ON THE MOTOR. IT HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD INSPECT FOR REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS SUB-LETTED OUT TO A FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT A HELICOIL REPAIR WAS WHAT WAS ONCE ACCEPTED BUT THEIR DEALERSHIP NO LONGER PERFORMED THAT PROCEDURE BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. FORD PUT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAID THE BEST REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE HEAD BUT A HELICOIL TYPE REPAIR WOULD SUFFICE. BECAUSE OF THIS TEMPORARY FIX ANNOUNCEMENT AND FORD'S INABLILTY TO ADMIT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRITON MOTOR BUILT BETWEEN 1997 AND 2008 MY EXTENDEDE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT MAKE THE BEST RECOMMENDED FIX. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUTABLE. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY OF FIVE AT RISK OF BREAKING DOWN AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN MY EXPEDITION MADE A NOISE, THE INSIDE DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. I PULLED OVER AT A HOTEL. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHO CAME TO PICK IT UP A FEW DAYS LATER. WHEN HE STARTED IT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT UNFIRE. THE ENTIRE WIRING BURNED UP ON THE LIFT SIDE OF THE …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN MY EXPEDITION MADE A NOISE, THE INSIDE DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. I PULLED OVER AT A HOTEL. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHO CAME TO PICK IT UP A FEW DAYS LATER. WHEN HE STARTED IT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT UNFIRE. THE ENTIRE WIRING BURNED UP ON THE LIFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC TOLD US WE WERE LUCK TO HAVE STOPPED. IF WE CONTINUED DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY FAMILY AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DANGER. I BELIEVE THE FIRE WAS THE FAULT OF BAD WIRING. I CHECK THE RECALL SITES AND MY VEHILCE WAS NOT PART OF THE FAULTY WIRING RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2003. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAD AND CAUSING THE COILS TO BREAK. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN 8 MONTHS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COST OVER $1200 TO REPAIR AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER V…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2003. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAD AND CAUSING THE COILS TO BREAK. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN 8 MONTHS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COST OVER $1200 TO REPAIR AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE NOR FOR HER PARTICULAR MODEL PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES 96,772. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 07/27/10*JB
DRIVING ON SIDE ROAD DOING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MY SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WENT OFF AND WHITE POWDER CAME OUT,TOOK TO FORD SAID CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT CHARGE ME 250 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE CODE SHOW AIR BAG DEPLOY, ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATE THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WENT OFF WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT, …
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DRIVING ON SIDE ROAD DOING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MY SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WENT OFF AND WHITE POWDER CAME OUT,TOOK TO FORD SAID CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT CHARGE ME 250 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE CODE SHOW AIR BAG DEPLOY, ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATE THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WENT OFF WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT, SAME NOISE AND POWDER, FORD SAID NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L V-8 ENGINE BLEW A SPARKPLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. *TR
ON JUNE 19 2009, RETURNING HOME FROM A SHORT TRIP, THICK SMOKE ERUPTED WITH STRONG RUBBER SMELL FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND INFORM THEM OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH, FORD GENERAL CONSUL OFFICE MADE D…
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ON JUNE 19 2009, RETURNING HOME FROM A SHORT TRIP, THICK SMOKE ERUPTED WITH STRONG RUBBER SMELL FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND INFORM THEM OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH, FORD GENERAL CONSUL OFFICE MADE DECISION THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT SAFETY HAZARDS AND WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. PAT MILLIKEN FORD HAS THE VEHICLE, AND INSPECTED THE DAMAGE, WHICH DECLARED TO BE VERY EXTENSIVE THE REPAIR COST MAY EXCEED $2000.00. FORD GENERAL CONSUL WAS INFORMED OF THE DAMAGE AND STILL WILL NOT CONSIDER IT AS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT BURST ON FIRE. MY SMART AND QUICK REACTION TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND CUT THE POWER OFF PREVENTED A DISASTER TO HAPPEN, AND YET AS A CONSUMER I'M LEFT WITH HEFTY REPAIR BILLS FOR A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE WIRING.*TR
ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE, HOWEVER INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE IS UNKNOWN. THIS COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES AS RAW FUEL WAS BEING BLOWN THROUGH THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS, SO THI…
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ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE, HOWEVER INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE IS UNKNOWN. THIS COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES AS RAW FUEL WAS BEING BLOWN THROUGH THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS, SO THIS IS NOT A CASE OF SOMEONE PUTTING TOO MUCH TORQUE ON REPLACEMENT PLUGS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND AFTER READING THE POSTS ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I AM CONVINCED THAT FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. *TR
Official recalls
103V094000 · Structure
Mar 7, 2003
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head
Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.